Tales of life and death

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“What is happening? Where am I?”

“Don’t worry, you are safe.”

“Who are you? What do you want?! I’m warning you, the Princess will punish you when she finds out!”

“Please, no need for agitation. Nothing will happen to you.”

“And I’m supposed to trust you, hmm? Take the blind fold off and show yourself!”

“There is no blind fold.”

“Then turn on the light!”

“There is no light.”

“Stop speaking in riddles, for goodness’s sake!”

“Look down.”

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“How? There is no light, and yet…”

“Do you need a mirror to prove the point?”

“Don’t you dare to make fun of me! Do you have the slightest idea who i am?”

“I know very well.”

“So you kidnapped me? Is this some kind of prison? Release me!”

“This is no prison.”

“Then can I leave?”

“No.”

“Stop contradicting yourself! If this is no cage, then why can’t I go?”

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“On Celestia’s grace, ANSWER ME!”

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“You hear me?”

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“Are you there?”

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“Have you calmed down?”

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“I’m sorry I left like that, but you seemed too agitated to talk.”

“…why?”

“Hmm?”

“You were gone for quite a while…”

“Why am I not getting hungry?”

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“Hunger… it has been such a long time since I ever felt it myself.”

“You are omitting the question…”

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“You are not in the right state of mind to hear the answer.”

“Will I ever hear it?”

“That’s the goal.”

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“Who are you?”

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“I hope a friend.”

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“How about we play a little game?”

“Why?”

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Sigh.
“Alright… what kind of game?”

“I will imagine a scenario or place and you have to tell me what you think, or feel about it.”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Between this and waiting a bit longer?”

“Not really.”

“Why should I indulge you?”

“Because I can promise you answers.”

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“Alright…”

“Let’s start then.”

“I see a grand and beautiful gala.

“Hosted by the Princess herself in a giant ballroom, with many important royals attending.”

“The Grand-Galloping Gala.”

“There were also many ponies from outside Canterlot, who managed to be invited. Among them there was a unicorn mare, her coat as if made of marble and her mane the color of lavender. She kept the company of a certain somepony, her eyes glistening with hopeful affection, only for it to be crushed by the one she expected courtship from.

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“Ring any bells?”

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“Where did you hear about this?”

“I see… a garden.”

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“I see a dazzling young colt walking around this garden.

”His coat white and through his veins flowed the blood of deep blue. But he was not alone, accompanying him was a beautiful young pegasus mare from another house. It wasn’t their first meeting, they knew each other for a week already. She approached him with a visage of a knight in shining armor, a royal and a lover. If she got his favor, there was a chance they would marry. But all her dreams were crushed, as the colt in front of her was anything but a chivalrous gentlecolt. He never asked about her day, he never complimented her, he only talked about himself and was rude to her.”

“A self absorbed pompous prick.”

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“This would be the last time they would ever meet.”

“Why are you telling me all of this?”

“So you are not denying it.”

“Is this some form of blackmail?”

“Are you one of them?”

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“No… you are not…”

“This is the first time I ever met you.”

“Then how do you know all of this?”

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"I see a blue unicorn colt. A royal advisor of the princess."

“…no…”

“He lay on a bed, surrounded by his friends and family. But the one he was waiting to see the most, was a white unicorn. His son.”

“Stop…”

“He looked directly into his son’s eyes, wordlessly saying everything he needed to know.”

“Please… stop.”

“The son left the room, running away from the scene with his eyes full with tears.”

“Stop!”

“As the blue colt on the bed looked on with—“

“ENOUGH!”

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“You have no idea what you are talking about!”

“You don’t know how I felt! How difficult it was being the nephew of a princess! Everyone looks up to you and listens to every little thing you say!”

“And nobody cares who you are….”

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“All they see is the title…”

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“I’ll leave to let you cool off.”

“You can call me whenever you feel like continuing.”

“Why would I even want to continue?”

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“Are you there?”

“Always…”

“Of course…”

“Are you ready to move along?”

“Not really… Are you going to talk about my father again?”

“I would rather hear your thoughts on him.”

“Why are you so interested in my life?”

“It's my duty.”

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“Duty…”

“He lectured me about it daily… I suppose I miss those days.”

“How was he?”

“I mean as a father?”

“Distant… like an unachievable goal. He wanted me to replace him as an advisor.”

“How did that go?”

“You said it yourself… I knew it the moment he locked eyes with me on his deathbed.”

“I was… I still am a disappointment.”

“His death must’ve affected you greatly.”

“I— I guess…”

“You guess?”

“I… think I tried to convince myself that I didn’t care.”

“Yet every time, I have been unconsciously remembering every single bit of advice he ever gave me.”

“Are you sure it was him, who distanced himself?”

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“No… not anymore…”

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“What kind of expectations did he really have for you?”

“To take over his position. To become an advisor to the princess. I already told you.”

“Are you sure this was what he wanted?”

“What else could he have wanted?”

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“I would like to continue with our game.”

Sigh.
“Alright… let’s get on with it…”

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“I see a garden.”

“Inside this garden I see three children playing with each other, all of noble descent. Two unicorn foals, one white and the other brown, and a single pegasus filly. They play, laugh and frolic through the garden.”

“Bold Heart and Crystal Ring…”

“I see the three again, now in their teenage years.”

“The pegasus filly and the white unicorn foal have grown closer throughout the years. The adults smiled at them as they watched the pair walking side by side to each other. But the white unicorn was not smiling… for he had found out about a secret.”

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“Do you want me to say it?”

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“Crystal Ring never loved me.”

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“She was using me to get to the royal bloodline.”

“Ever since we were small, all she ever saw me as was a ticket to improve her social standing. She was taking advantage of my generosity and love. All the gifts I bought… and not a single thank you or anything in return. Only complaints and endless demands. I was so naive back then… but the worst happened when I overheard her talking to one of her friends. She was boasting about how I acted like her personal dog. Unconditional love made me a slave. I shut myself in my chambers for a whole week… allowing only my personal servants to enter and bring me my food. I told my aunt, the princess, about it. She encouraged me to break up with her the next day. I cut my ties with her and her family, unwilling to see her ever again.”

“How many suitors courted you after this?”

“57… Bold Heart was one of them…”

“And why are you mentioning him specifically?”

“His betrayal was especially hurtful.”

“Just like Crystal Ring, I knew him since I was little. He was a very close friend that I trusted deeply, until a certain misunderstanding.”

“What happened?”

“He caught on to my act. The way I avoided any relationship with mares that showed even the slightest hint of interest… as he watched me perform in front of the suitors, he started suspecting… hoping that I was just like him.”

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Sigh.
“He was the 24th. Unlike with others… I couldn’t lie to him. As he confessed under the tree we often played under as foals… I told him my feelings up front, without any care if I was inconsiderate or even rude. I just wanted him to go away, as much as it pained me.”

“What did you tell him, exactly?”

“I told him that I didn’t want to know him anymore…”

“I told him… if he truly was my friend, he would have understood why I turned down every suitor. Why I created the act. I told him to leave me be and to never come back…”

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“That was not… the best action you could take.”

“I wasn’t thinking straight... I felt betrayed, just like with Crystal Ring. At this moment, he was just another leech after the royal status. He was just another greedy noble, who craved power. I was unable to see him as the same pony I knew all these years.”

“Did you ever think of giving him another chance?”

“No… the damage was done. I lived with the consequences of my actions.”

“At least you have integrity.”

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“I think its my turn to play the game…”

“Oh? May I know why?”

“I just remembered something important, and I think I understand my situation at this moment.”

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“What do you see?”

“I see… a ceiling. A room.”

“I see my aunt, holding my hoof as her sister and pupil watch her sitting beside me. No one else is there with us. As always, Celestia is as calm and collected as ever. It’s not the first time she must have experienced something like that. It happened with my parents, so it must happen with me. I remember feeling disappointed… she retired before I could become her advisor, and her replacement already had one.”

„And at this point I knew… she was the only one who would cry over my coffin…”

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“Do you know everypony’s life the moment they arrive?”

“Yes.”

“Could you please tell me… what exactly was my father disappointed about?”

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“Is there something you regret in your life?”

Chuckle
“Avoiding the question again’ I see.”

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“Living my life in fear.”

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“Life is all about taking risks. Without risk, there is also no reward.”

“I spent my life running. From relationships. From my father. My duty…”

“Only now, when I reached the finish line… I realize I should have been walking instead.”

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“Your father was never disappointed in you…”

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“…What?”

“As he looked into your eyes for the very last time, he understood…”

“He should have been a better support to you…”

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“he… found out what I was doing…”

“Even though I never told him about it…”

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Sigh.
“What will happen now?”

“Normally… I’d help you make a garden you would stay at for eternity.”

“But now, I think you qualify for reincarnation.”

“Reincarnation?”

“You will be born anew. A new body, new parents, new life. You will lose all of your memories as you come back as an infant, but you will keep all of your past life’s regrets. That way you can work to become a better pony than you ever were.”

“I— I don’t know what… thank you…”

“No need to thank me. Just try not to waste this second chance.”